1304.] 253 



between Ipswich and Felixstowe 0. nigrata has a wide European 

 distribution, occurrinf^ in France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Bosnia, 

 and Herzegovina. 



12, Churchill Road, 



Dartmouth Park, N.W. : 

 Septemher \Uh, 1904. 



[The type of O. hihernica. Rye, has the hind tarsi formed as above described. 

 Compared with O. pieina, Aube, it has a much shorter apical joint to the antennee. 

 Many years ago Mr. J. J. Walker sent me numerous specimens of 0. nigrata, Fairm., 

 from Malta.— G. C. C.]. 



Occurrence of a South American moth at Marlborough. — On September 17th I 

 was genuinely astonished to have brought me for identification a living example of 

 a Syntomid of obvious South American aspect, just captured by one of the College 

 boys in the centre of High Street, Marlborough. I concur with Sir George 

 Hampson (who was kind enough to examine the specimen) that it is probably a 

 melanic example of Ceramidia butleri, Miischl., the bright blue-green colour of the 

 basal half of fore-wings being replaced by black, and the crimson spots of the neck 

 being absent. This species is widely distributed in Central and South America ; 

 and from enquiries made I consider it almost certain that the specimen must have 

 been introduced (in the pupa stage) with bananas, some crates of which had recently 

 been received by a local fruiterer from Costa Rica, and unpacked in the street. These 

 bananas are conveyed across in refrigerating chambers, and it seems a reasonable 

 conjecture that the melanism of this individual is due to the action of cold on tlie 

 pupa ; so that it forms not only an interesting example of casual distribution, but 

 also an experimental contribution to the theory of melanism. — E. Metrick, 

 Thornanger, Marlborough : October 6th, 1904. 



Acidalia ochrata, Scop., in South-Ea.it Dorset. — I have much pleasure in re- 

 cording the fact that on July 18th, 1900, my friend, the Rev. E. Ilallett Todd, of 

 Bournemouth, disturbed and secured, amongst mixed growth at Branksome, Dorset, 

 a specimen of Acidalia ochrata, which he has very kindly added to my collection. 

 The specimen is a female in good condition, and obviously full of ova, which makes 

 one greatly regret that the fortunate captor did not give her the opportunity of 

 depositing them, and himself the chance of rearing a Dorset brood of this local 

 species in the event of their having proved fertile. Subsequent attempts by Mr. 

 Hallett Todd and myself to meet with the insect again have so far been unsuccess- 

 ful, but I still hope that we may some day be able to prove that it is establislied in 

 the locality. Any thought of the individual being an escape seems quite untenable, 

 and the chances of its having been an accidental importation are decidedly remote, 

 while the idea of a female ochrata, extremely heavy with ova, and in good condition, 

 having arrived there by migration, has little to recommend it. — Eustace R. 

 Bankes, Norden, Corfe Castle : August \st, 1904. 



